Search - Faces :: Ooh La La (Mlps)

ONCE AGAIN, WARNER JAPAN, AND ONLY WARNER JAPAN, GETS IT RIG

BOB | LOS ANGELES, CA | 07/02/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"
Warner Japan extends its near-perfect track record of providing state-of-the-art remastering while remaining true to the dynamic range of the original recording. None of these remasters are available in the U.S., which remains almost criminal, thanks to WMG USA.



These mini-sleeve remasters are now the defacto best-in-class audio version of each album. The mastering supercedes all other worldwide releases, and is superior even to the Rhino box. There is enhanced clarity in each disc, especially in the percussion.



Except for Nod, which was just a single-fold standard jacket, each 'sleeve also has the original custom-designed LP covers, with all the gatefolds and die-cuts, right down to the real thread stitching on Long Player. Nod does have the original fold-out poster, too, miniaturized to perfection.



Warner Japan seldom, if ever, represses mini-sleeves, and often the 'sleeve remasters are only ever available on those editions. So, if you're a fan of these albums, and you want the best audio, get yours before they're gone.



WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?



Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.



Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.



Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.



Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.



All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs."